by Pastor Cecil | Dec 22, 2016 | Matthew
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’”
There are many religions that strive to please the man-made gods that they have created out of wood, stone, or metal. These objects are nothing more than human attempts to worship a god of their own making.
I am so thankful that we serve a God that is not made with human hands. As a matter of fact, we are to serve the God of the universe who created everything … including us.
God did not simply create us — He gave us the greatest gift imaginable by sending His precious Son, Jesus, as a tiny baby. From the very outset, Satan was irate at the birth of this precious gift to the people of earth. He tried to destroy the infant Jesus, and as a result many babies were slain near Bethlehem. God saved His Son from the anger of Satan until the time was fulfilled and Jesus, as a grown man, willingly died on the cross (Matthew 27 & 28).
God came to be with us for the purpose of extending the offer of eternal life for those who would accept the gift by grace through faith. It is the most precious gift that has ever been given. If you have never accepted this precious gift, I implore you to do so right now.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 21, 2016 | Daniel
Daniel 2:22
“He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
There are so many things that I know little or nothing about. When I read about the study of micro-biology, I am stunned by the unseen world that comes alive under powerful electron microscopes. To be able to view the photos taken by giant telescopes of the deepest reaches of the heavens astounds me even more.
Even the most brilliant scientists are continually surprised by the newest discoveries. The most enlightening thing is that God not only knows all of these things, He is the One who created everything!
To my way of thinking, it is far better to know the God who created all things than to try to know something of the things that He made with the word of His mouth. Godless scientists have established a theory of how things were created. They ridicule those of us who hold to the theory of God’s creation. Man’s theory is based upon rejection of God. God’s Word gives us a positive theory that has been confirmed over and over again with each new discovery.
God knows all things. As we trust in Him we will have the answers that matter for time and eternity. Just remember this — GOD KNOWS!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 20, 2016 | Galatians
Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
“I want it and I want it right now!” Those words are often shouted by a spoiled child who has not been properly trained. Well, let me be honest and admit that many adults exhibit that same attitude, if not in those exact words.
In my 82+ years of life I have come to realize that God’s timing is always better than mine. I have experienced disappointment when my requests were not met at the time I asked for them. But, the things that I thought I had to have at a particular time would have been to my detriment (or to others) if my timing was met.
God knew when the time was right for His Son, Jesus, to be born. There were those who wanted it far sooner and others who still deny that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel who came IN THE FULNESS OF TIME!
God has all things under control. We need to submit to His loving care and allow His fullness of time to become our fullness of time as well. Even Jesus submitted to His Father’s timing when He prayed, “… not my will but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
It is usually unwise to state that everyone is doing some particular thing. It is a common ploy that teenagers use to persuade their parents to allow them to do something that is questionable. — “But, everyone is doing it!” (Let me interject at this point that just because others are doing something does not mean it is a wise or prudent thing to do.)
However, there is one thing that I can state with all certainty that every single person on the face of the earth is doing: Each of us is in the process of dying! That is such a sobering truth, but it is an undeniable truth regardless.
While the reality and certainty of death was passed down to us after the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we have been offered the gift of eternal life if we choose to accept it. This was made possible only through the birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The fantastic reality is that our eternal life begins at the moment of our spiritual birth. Our physical bodies may grow weaker and deteriorate, but the vital part of our being can have eternal life. Everyone is destined for physical death, but we have a wonderful life that will go on and on forever and forever!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 16, 2016 | Isaiah
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
The name Immanuel (or Emmanuel) is interpreted “God with us.” There are many Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. The encouragement that His coming entails is that God Himself will descend and make His appearance to save the people from their sins. Thank God He has come!
The “Day-Spring” referenced in the third stanza below is an encouragement for us as we travel through the long and dark times of our life. I am overjoyed that God has cared so much for us that He has sent salvation to us by grace through faith!
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL!
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from GloryScapes.com by going to http://www.gloryscapes.com/ocomeocomeemmanuel/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
